Book Introduction - Ainul Hayaat

The book Ainul Hayaat has been penned by the great Shiite Schlolar Allamah Muhammad Baaqir Majlisi (a.s). Allamah Majlisi (r.a) was a scholar of exemplary piety and knowledge. His revered father Mulla Muhammad Taqi (a.s) was also a scholar of great repute. He was born and trained in a family where in the ladies also were highly knowledgeable. His elder sister Amina Begum was so learned that her husband Mulla Saleh Mazandarani who himself was a great scholar consulted her in matters of fiqh.

He learned from various scholars like Mulla Saleh Mazandarani, Allama Hassan Ali Shustari, Amr Mohammed Momin Astarabadi, Mirza e Jazairi, Sheik Hur al Amili, Mulla Mohsin Astarabadi, Mulla Sadra and Mulla Mohsin Faiz Kashan.

He also left a great legacy of knowledge behind him in form of his students who were the great scholars of their times like Sayed Nematullah Jazairi.

Beides Ainul Hayaat i.e. the Essence of Life Allamah Majlis (a.r) has authored several books among which Behaarul Anwaar is widely renowned. The other books he wrote are Miratul Uqool, Malazul Akhyaar and Hayatul Quloob. 

Ainul Hayaat

This book contains incidents and admonishments that encourage us to restrain from moral and ethical vices like love of world, love of wealth, following base desires, pride over wealth and position and their ilk. Let us narrate a couple of incidents to bring forth this point.

Love of world

 Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that Hazrat Isa (a.s.) passed through a hamlet once. All the people, animals and birds in that place were lying dead. He thought, they must all have died with the curse of Allah! If they had died, one after another, they would certainly have received decent burial. Hazrat Isa (a.s.)’s disciples said,

“ O Spirit of Allah! Pray to Allah that He brings them back to life again that we ask them about the cause of the severe punishment inflicted on them. That will be a lesson for us to take care in our own lives.”

Hazrat Isa (a.s.) went to an elevated place and cried aloud,

“ O inhabitants of the hamlet! With the orders of Allah, respond to me!” One of the dead persons rose and said,

“Labbaek  O Spirit of Allah!”

Hazrat Isa (a.s.) said,

“For what acts you have been brought to such wretched condition?”

He replied,

“We were following Taghoot (the Satan) from the depths of our hearts! We denied the existence of Allah! We were the friends of the material world and sure of enjoying it for long! We were busy with our activities of lechery and depravation!”

Hazrat Isa (a.s.) asked,

“What sort of love for the world you had?” He replied,

“ The way a child loves his mother. One night we were sleeping that we found ourselves awaken in the Fire of Doomsday. We all started shouting that we be allowed to come back to the world once again that we make amends for our past sins! A sound proclaimed, ‘ You are liars!’ and the flames of fire encircled us!”

Hazrat Isa (a.s.) told to his disciples,

“ Eating dry bread and salt is definitely better than the life of sin these people were living! It is better to sleep on the bare floor than the comfortable beds of depravity!”

Cursing the enemies of Ahle Bait(a.s)

Safar narrates from Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) that Hazrat Ali (a.s.) has said,

“ There is a city of Allah on the rear of the West, by name Ja Balqa. There are people of 70,000 Faiths (Ummats) living there. The population of every faith is equal to the entire population of this world. They never ever indulge in any sins or misdeeds. They don’t have to do do any work other than uttering curses on the enemies of the Ahl al Bayt!”

What will we take with us to hereafter?

While admonishing Yuzasaf the prince, Balohar said:

“ It is said that a person had three friends. He used to love one of them very much. Whatever the person asked him to do, he would do with alacrity. The second friend too he loved dearly, but not as much as he liked the first. The third friend received little attention from the person.

One day the person was summoned to the king’s court on account of a complaint made by someone against him. He was much scared. He went to the first friend and told him of his worry. He asked him for help. The friend said,

“ I have got a special raiment made for you that you can wear and go to the court.”

The man was much disappointed with the reply. He went to the second friend and told him about his problem. He replied,

 “ I have so much work on hand that I cannot give you any time or attention. I can only walk a few paces with you on the way to the king’s court!”

The man was disappointed with the second friend too, and came away from him crestfallen. He went to the third friend and begged his pardon that he had always neglected him. But he explained his problem to him. The friend said,

“ Don’t be afraid! Your repentance at this time has come to your rescue! I shall come with you to the court and help you!”

Balohar continued, “ O prince! The first friend was wealth that promised to give him a shroud for his coffin, if required. The second friend was his child who agreed to walk a few paces on the way to his grave. The third friend was his good deeds that would keep company with him even after his death.

May Allah grant us the taufeeq to read this great book by the great scholar and act upon the admonishments therein. Ilahi Ameen.